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Leaping ahead of extinction

1 March 2012

Photo: Damian Goodall.

This weekend, March 3rd/4th, you are invited to join Zoos Victoria in their support of conservation efforts for amphibians across the globe by enjoying some very special frog-focused family activities at Melbourne Zoo.

Meet a Stuttering Barred Frog up close

Listen to Raelene's tale of discovering the elusive Baw Baw Frog

Wonder at the mock nests and egg masses of endangered frog species

Take home frog masks to colour in

Meet our superhero Zooperman

Collect swap cards of extinction fighters

In celebration of Leap Day (February 29), Amphibian Ark have coordinated an international event, Leaping Ahead of Extinction 2012, to celebrate the many conservation efforts zoos and aquariums are making all over the world. We decided one day wasn't enough, so we are dedicating a whole weekend filled with activities to get you excited about frogs!

Take it from our frog specialist, Raelene Hobbs, who says "this weekend is a great opportunity to celebrate the diversity of frogs and other amphibians around the world and also to raise awareness about the issues that are harming frogs: habitat pollution and loss and the spread of disease". Melbourne Zoo has a longstanding involvement in frog conservation and has also developed community conservation campaigns that aim to encourage people to help protect the waterways that frogs and other wildlife depend on such as <LINK>Wash for Wildlife.

Zoos Victoria is also committed to breeding programs for several endangered Australian frog species including: the Baw Baw Frog, Southern Corroboree Frog, Northern Corroboree Frog, Spotted Tree Frog and Stuttering Frog. We are just one of 58 institutions from 17 countries, including Australia, Canada, Colombia, Ecuador, England, New Zealand and the US that are participating in this celebration.

To show your support, and visit Melbourne Zoo this weekend and get involved in the activities. Leap to it!

Further info

About Amphibian Ark

Amphibian Ark was founded in 2006 by the IUCN/SSC Conservation Breeding Specialist Group, the IUCN/SSC Amphibian Specialist Group, and the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Its mission is facilitating partnerships that ensure the global survival of amphibians, focusing on those that cannot currently be safeguarded in nature.